Big Lake man wanted after fleeing police in Eagle River

Friday, November 17, 2017 - 11:17

Posted:

Tue, 11/14/2017 - 6:07pm

Items in the Police Briefs are taken from the Anchorage Police Department’s online crime mapping system. Details about individual events is provided by the department’s public information office. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

On Nov. 1, police received a call about a vehicle parked on the side of Steeple Drive with its hazard lights on. Officers arrived and contacted two occupants, including a female driver and male passenger.

Police said the man gave officers a name, date of birth and Social Security number that didn’t match. Police asked the man to get out of the vehicle and told him they’d do a pat-down search. At the point, the man allegedly told police he was in possession of a gun. The officer took a handgun from the man, at which point the man allegedly broke away and jumped off the edge of the steep roadway, which police estimated was about a 15- to 20-foot drop. Officers searched the area, but couldn’t find the man, who was later identified as 27-year-old Jay Thomas Burgess of Big Lake.

After discovering Burgress’ true identity, officers discovered he was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant out of Palmer. Court records show Burgess was convicted in May on a first-degree vehicle theft charge, and a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to show up to begin serving his sentence June 30. As of Tuesday, Nov. 14, Burgess was still on the loose and wanted both on the original warrant and new charges of third- and fifth-degree misconduct involving a weapon, resisting arrest and making a false report.

WARRANT

On Nov. 7 at around 2:22 p.m., an APD officer pulled over to check on a vehicle pulled over on the side of the road because it was out of gas. The driver, Louis Boles, 55, of Anchorage, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court.

THEFT

On Nov. 7 at around 2:40 p.m., police were called to the GCI store after Dwayne A. Smith, 18, of Anchorage, allegedly tried to steal several iPhones. According to police, Smith asked to see several of the items, then tried to run off when the clerk handed them over. Smith’s escape was thwarted by a pair of customers, who held Smith until police arrived. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant and additionally charged with second-degree theft.

BURGLARY

On Nov. 7 a homeowner said someone entered her home the night before and stole several items. The woman said on the following night, an unknown man tried to get into the house using the electronic keypad outside, but ran off when she yelled at him. The code has been changed and the case remains under investigation.

DRUGS

On Nov. 8 at around 1 p.m., police were called about a small container of marijuana found at Chugiak High.

ELUDING

On Nov. 10 at around 10:38 p.m., an APD officer driving through the Mirror Lake parking lot stopped to check on a vehicle occupied by two people. While out of his vehicle, the officer was notified by police dispatch the vehicle was stolen. The officer told the occupants to stop moving, but instead the man inside got into the driver’s seat and drove off at high speed. The officer tried to chase the vehicle, but discontinued the pursuit due to dangerous speeds.

SPEEDING

On Nov. 11 at around 2:26 p.m., a black SUV passed an APD officer on the Glenn Highway. Police said the officer honked at the SUV to get the driver to slow down, but instead the SUV sped up and “began driving in an aggressive manner.”

The officer stopped the vehicle, at which time the 29-year-old male driver allegedly got out of the car and refused to get back inside, advancing on the officer and yelling obscenities. Police said the man was handcuffed until other officers arrived. Police said he was cited for speeding and charged with littering after throwing the citation on the ground.

DUI

On November 12 at around 10:45 p.m., an APD officer stopped a vehicle for allegedly driving 86 MPH on the Glenn Highway and arrested the driver, Toni H. Goad, 57, of Eagle River, for operating under the influence.